Capt Werner G. Goering (P) - Was believed to be the nephew of Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering
Commander in Chief of the Nazi German Luftwaffe. (Later research would prove that was not the case. See: "Hell Above Earth" by Stephen Frater.) Capt Goering completed 48 credited combat missions on 28 Jan 1945 (Mission 308) and was promoted to Captain while a Lead Crew Pilot

1Lt Jack P. Rencher (P) - Was an experienced B-17 Pilot before being assigned to the 1Lt Goering Crew. Had over 1,000 B-17 Pilot hours flying at the Yuma AFB, Az. Gunnery school. While at Yuma AFB, AZ was selected for a volunteer assignment as the Werner G.
Goering crew Co-Pilot after an extensive USAAF investigation to find a Pilot uniquely qualified to
fly as an armed 1Lt Goering CoPilot over Nazi Germany and to make sure that he wouldn't land in
German territory while on a combat mission. Was upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated
22 November 1944 and completed five missions (277, 286, 287, 289, 290) as a First Pilot.
Flew on 25 missions as the 1Lt Goering Crew CoPilot (Goering missions 232 through 275 and 279 and
281) and five credited missions with other Pilots (231, 251, 254, 258, 288 - when 1Lt Goering stood
down). Completed his 35 mission combat tour on 24 Dec 1944 (Mission 290).

S/Sgt Paul A. Bishop (WG) - Deleted from crew before the crew's 1st combat mission when
the crew was changed from 10 to 9 men. Flew no combat missions with the 303rd BG(H).
Subsequent assignment unknown.

Incidents - Werner G. Goering as Pilot:

Hole in the ground from 15 February 1945 explosion of #44-8590.
[photo courtesy of Elmer Prusha, 427th BS]

15 February 1945 mission #315 to Dresden, Germany in PFF B-17G #44-8590 (no name)
(358BS) VK-Y. 358th High Squadron lead crew take-off accident, visibility 70 yards,
obscured sky requiring instrument take-off. After beginning the take-off roll, the B-17
swerved to the left of the runway, about one-quarter of the way down the runway. Lt
Goering asked his CoPilot to apply flaps and full military power. The B-17 became
airborne at 95 MPH, wheels were raised, and flaps bled up at 100 mph. The aircraft then
began to mush and struck the ground 300 yards west of the east/west runway.
Bombardier, Lt Bill F. Condor, suffered a broken arm and three other crewmen had
minor injuries. At 0745 hours, ten minutes after the crash, the B-17 exploded and was
completely destroyed. All crewmen and other personnel were clear of the B-17 when it
exploded. Waist Gunner, S/Sgt J.A. Blinebury, was awarded the Soldiers' Medal for the
rescue of Lt. Buckner.

07 December 1944 returning from a routine PFF training flight in PFF B-17G #42-97557
Mercy's Madhouse (358th BS) VK-X. The right landing gear collapsed while making a
turn after completing the landing roll. Caused by a broken landing gear reduction screw.
There was extensive damage to the #4 propeller and engine and the outboard wing.

22 March 1945 mission #343 to Buer, Germany in PFF B-17G #44-8238 (358BS)
VK-Y flying as the 358th High Squadron lead crew. Severe flak knocked out the pilot's
oxygen system, #1 engine and interphone. The C-1 autopilot became inoperative and an
electrical fire in the cockpit fuse box filled the cockpit with smoke. The bomb run was
completed manually.